Testing device



Patented Apr. 20, 1943 UNI TE D STATES BATE N o 2,317,263.

TESTING DEVICE John J. Eagan, Yonkers, N. Y.

Application September 15, 1942, Serial No. 458,433

4 Claims.

This invention relates to testing devices, and more particularly to a device adapted to test electrical systems, such as ignition systems, spark plugs, etc.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown my device adapted to be used to test ignition systems, and particularly spark plugs, but it will be readily appreciated that it may be used to test any electrical system.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive but efiicient testing device by which the system being tested may be visually checked.

Another object is to provide a device which may be used at a convenient distance from the place being checked. This is particularly advantageous in checking ignition systems in modern cars where the construction of the hood makes work under the hood difiicult and cumbersome.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a perspective View of an embodiment of my invention showing it in use in testing a spark plug;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly broken away to show the structure;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on th line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a modified form of handle.

My device comprises a handle member I made of wood or any other cheap insulating material. The handle member II is notched at |2 to form a shoulder I4. It has a raised point |5 which slopes away to form the notch I6 and the shoulder l1.

An operating lever is pivoted on the high point Is by the simple expedient of a nail 2| being driven therethrough. Another nail 23 operating in the hole 24 serves as a simple and efiicient guide. At the other end of the operating lever 20 a nail 25 is positioned to extend through the hole 26 in the handle [I and into the opening 21. By the movement of the operating handle 20, the gap between the end 28 of the nail 25 and the end 29 of the nail 3|], positioned in the bottom of the handle, may be varied.

Insulated cables 3| and 32 are embedded in the end 33 of the handle and the wire 34 is pierced by the nail 30. Similarly, the nail 25 pierces the stranded wire 35. The wire 35 extends into the handle member l and engages the neon tube which is placed in the slot 4| by means of an opening 42 in the notch 43 of the handle member The neon tube may be held in place by the spring 44 and the plug 45. The cables may be positioned in the end 33 of the handle by the pins 36 which are insulated by the plug 31. Graduations 46 may be placed on the shoulder to indicate the distance between the points.

The cables 3| and 32 may be provided with conventional clamps 41 and 48 for use when it is desired to test an electrical circuit, such as the strength and regularity of the secondary of an automobile ignition system. The clamp 41 may be attached to the spark plug 49 and the clamp 48 to the lead wire 50. The neon tube will then indicate the passage of the spark through the plug, and not only can the actual passage be noted but the kind and strength of the spark may be determined by the manipulation of the operating lever 2!) increasing or decreasing the gap between the ends 28 and 29 of the wires 25 and 30.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 6, the handle member is grooved slightly at 6| to accommodate a dowel 62 which serves as a pivot for the operating lever 63. In all other respects the deivce would work in the same manner.

It will be seen that I have provided a simple, inexpensive and practically foolproof testing device which may be efiiciently used by the ordinary mechanic or car owner to make routine checks or to locate difficulties in the ignition system of his car. It will also be seen that my device may be connected to the plug and lead-in wire and then manipulated from outside of the car without difficulty. Moreover, due to the construction of the device, there is little danger of the user receiving a shock.

I claim:

1. A testing device comprising a handle member, an opening in said handle member adjacent one end, two cables embedded in said handle member, one of said cables engaging a pin extending into said opening, a cut-out portion having a high point in the upper end of said handle member, an operating lever in said cut-out portion adapted to pivot on said high point, and a pin in said operating lever extending through said second-mentioned cable into said opening.

2. A testing device comprising a handle member, an opening in said handle member adjacent one end, two cables embedded in said handle member, one of said cables engaging a pin extending into said opening, an operating lever pivoted on said handle member, and a pin in said operating lever extending into said handle member through said second-mentioned cable into said opening.

3. A testing device comprising an insulated handle member, an opening in said handle member through one end, a neon tube visibly mounted I in said handle member, two cables embedded in said handle member, one of said cables engaging a pin extending into said opening, a second-mentioned cable running to said neon tube, a cut-out portion having a high point in the upper end of said handle member, an operating lever in said cut-out portion adapted to pivot on said high point, and a pin in said operating lever extending through said second-mentioned cable into said opening.

4. A testing device comprising a handle member, an opening through said handle member adjacent one end thereof, two cables embedded in said handle member, one of said cables engaging a pin extending into said opening, a cut-out JOHN J. EAGAN. 

